Humidifier



Sept. 8, 1959 R. A. FISHER 2,903,013 I HUMIDIFIER Filed May 14, 1956 2 Sl 1eets-Sheet 1 Row Fl FISHER.-

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HUMIDIFIER iid A. Fisher, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Application May 14, I1956, Serial No. 584,659

Claims. 01. 137- 408) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in humidifiers, the principal object and essence of my invention :being to provide a device of the character herewithin described which consists of a tilting pan and a tilting valve control element both cooperating together to control the valve which is situated externally of the furnace and which furthermore does not incorporate spring elements for the valve or other meohanical structures which can easily become inoperative under the conditions met with a humidifier.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which provides adjustments for the actuation of the tilting component.

'A yet-further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is automatic in action and needs very little attention once installed and adjusted.

.Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is extremely simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well-suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and constnuction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my device.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1 sectioned in part,

Figure 3 is an enlarged exploded sectionalview of the valve plate and valve control component.-

Figure 4 is an enlarged underside view of the valve element per se.

' Figure 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the resilient valve cup.

Figure 6 is a top plan elevation of my device showing an alternative embodiment. I

Figure 7 is a side elevation of my device as shown in Figure 6.

j Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view substantially along the lines 84-8 of Figure 7, but with the supporting plates removed for clarity.

.In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the dilferent figures.

Conventional automatic humidifiers normally used in hot air heating systems consist primarily of a water reservoir, and a valve system connected to the main Water line, together with some means co-acting between the two in order.to maintain the reservoir at the desired level. Normally speaking these valve mechanisms incorporate spring elements and due to the fact that the majority of water supplies contain salts of one form or another, these usually become corroded due to the nited States Patent 0 Figure 2.

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evaporation action and transfer to the valve section. I have overcome these disadvantages by eliminating all springs and other mechanical linkages relying primarily on tilting actions and accurate counter-balancing for the operation of the device. Also, my valve consists of an extremely simple resilient cup engaging the lower end of the valve element and this together with the fact that it is remote from the water pan and is shrouded against heat transfer, practically eliminates any salting or corrosive action occurring at this point.

Proceeding therefore to describe my invention in detail, it will be seen upon reference to the accompanying drawings that I have illustrated a supporting framework collectively designated 1 comprising a front mounting plate 2 which is substantially rectangular and a pair of parallel spaced side arms 3 extending inwardly from the mounting plate. It is to be understood that the side arms extend into the hot air heating system within the air stream and the mounting plate 2 can be secured to the element on the hot air heating system such as the surrounding casing (not illustrated).

A trough-shaped water reservoir or pan 4 open upon the upper surface, is provided with trunnions 5 extending from the side wall 6 intermediate the ends thereof and these trunnions are adapted to engage within bearing lugs 7 extending inwardly from the side arms 3 also intermediate the ends thereof.

The inner end 8 of the pan 4 is weighted as at 9 so that normally, when the pan is empty, the inner end 8 is in the lowermost position, but when the pan is full, the inner end is in the raised position as illustrated in In this connection a rod 10 spans the side arms 3 substantially adjacent the inner ends 11 thereof and above the pan 4, the edges 12 of the pan sides 6 engaging this rod and limiting the upward movement of the inner end 8 of the pan.

Adjacent the upper edge 13 of the mounting plate 2, I have provided an inwardly extending lug 14 to which is secured by means of screws 15, a valve plate 16. This valve plate 16 comprises an upper planar surface portion 17, the inner ends 18 of which extend through an aperture (not illustrated) at the end of the mounting plate so that screw 15 can engage aperture 19 and secures the valve plate in the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

This valve plate includes a downwardly depending skirt portion 20 extending around the major portion of the perimeter of the planar portion 17 and within the skirt portion 20 is formed a pair of bearing lugs 21.

A valve control component collectively designated 22 connects between the valve plate and the pan. This valve control component comprises an elongated trough 23 open at the upper side and inner end, and having lugs 24 depending therefrom by which it is pivotally secured to the valve plate by the bearing lugs 21 and pivot pin 25, it being understood that the outer end 26 of the trough engages within the skirt portion 20 of the valve plate.

. Adjacent the inner ends 27 of the trough, I have provided balance weights 28 preferably formed integrally with the trough so that normally the inner end 27 bears downwardly and consequently the outer end upwardly. The underside of the trough 23 adjacent the inner end 27 thereof rests upon the outer end wall 29 of the pan 4 as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The valve plate 16 is apertured adjacent the outer end 30 thereof to receive an apertured valve body 31 secured in position upon the planar surface 17 by means of nuts 32. The upper end 33 of this valve body is adapted to be connected to the main water line (not illustrated) and the lower end 34, which is below the planar surface 17 of the valve plate, is multisided as shown in Figure 4.

The valve 35 consists of a resilient cup formed of rubher or similar material which is adapted to engage around the multi-sided end 34 of the valve element and to be held thereon frictionally. A protuberance or projection 36 is formed upon the inner surface 37 of the base 38 of the-rubber cup, said protuberance extending upwardly andadapted to engage the lower end-of the aperture 39 extending through the valve body 31. The-outer surface 40 of the base 38 of .the cup is adapted to be engaged by a protuberance41 formed upon theinner surface 42 of the valvecontrol component adjacentthe outer end thereof.

I havealso provided a shroud 43 upon the underside of the planar surface 17 of the valve plate,said shroud surrounding but being spaced from the valve component and this shroud protects the valve cup 35 from heat transferred from the pan 4.

In operation, the valve control component is adjusted to give the correctcounter-balancing inter-action between the component depending upon the water pressure and, with the pan empty, the inner ends is in the lowermost position with the-outer end in the uppermost position; The inner end lifts the valve control component by the inner end thereof thus moving the protuberance 41 from the base of thevalve cup. Normal water pressure will then force the protuberance 36 out of the aperture 39 and permit water to flow between the cup-and the multi-sided portion 34 of the element from whence it flows into the trough of the valve control element and thence into the pan 4. As the pan fills, the weight of water causes the outer end of the pan to move downwardly thus permitting the weighted end 27 of the valve control component to drop' which forces the protuberance 41 into contact with the base of the valve cup and engaging the protuberance 36 within the lower end of aperture 39. thus shutting off the water. As the water is evaporated, of course, the pan tilts slightly thus permitting water to enter and maintain, the level at all times.

It will be noticed that the valve component is remote from the evaporating pan and that the shroud 43' tends to protect same from heat transfer thus reducing considerably any tendency for corrosion or salting to occur at this point.

It will also be appreciated that as the resilient cup 35 is only open at the upper end thereof, this will remain full of water thus ensuring that the valve seat or aperture 39 is wet at all times thereby eliminating any oxidization or salting occurring at this area. As the valve operates, the cup overflows and flows into the pan but itself always remains full of water and the valve is therefore always submerged.

Turning next to the embodiments disclosed in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the principal construction of the device is similar and has therefore been given similar reference characters. However, it will be noted that the inner end 27 of the trough is narrower than that of the previous embodiments, but also includes a weight 28 for counterbalancing purposes.

However, instead of the underside of the trough engaging the outer end 29 of the pan, I have provided an &- standing arm 44 secured to and extending from the side of the trough. A lever arm 45 extends forwardly from the arm 44, said lever arm being of right angular crosssection. The upper flange 46 of this lever arm is adapted to be engaged by a protuberance 47 formed upon the upper surface of the side wall 6 of the pan between the outer end 29 and the pivot thereof. This form of linkage is a far more accurate control of the co-operation between the two components and permits the device to operate accurately and to maintain a standard water level irrespective of the water pressure.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter con- 4 I tained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A humidifier assembly for use with hot air heating system and adapted to be supported within the hot air circulating system thereof, comprising in combination a supporting framework, a water pan including an inner end and an outer end, mounted intermediate said ends for tilt ing action within said framework, the inner end of said pan tilting downwardly when said pan is empty and upwardly when said pan is full, a valve plate secured to said framework in alignnrept with said pan, a water valve in said plate, and an independent pivotally mounted valve control component mounted for rocking action intermediate the ends thereof to said valve plate and adapted to co-act between said pan and said water valve to close said water valve when said inner end of said pan is in the raised position. and open said water valve when said inner end of said pan is in the lowered position;

2. A humidifier assembly for use with hot air heating systems and adapted to be supported within the hot air circulating system thereof, comprising in combination a supporting framework, said framework including a mounting, plate and a pair of parallel horizontal side arms extending therefrom, a water pan including an inner end and an outer. end, mounted intermediate said ends for tilting action between and upon'said side arms, the inner end of. said pan tilting downwardly when said pan is empty and upwardly when said pan is full, a valve plate secured to said mounting plate and extending substantially on the side remote from said pan, a water valve in said valve plate, and an independent pivotally mounted valve control component mounted for rocking action intermediate the ends thereof to said valve plate and adapted to co-act between said pan and said water valve to close said water valve when said inner end of said pan is in the raised position and open said water valve when said inner end of said pan is in the lowered position.

3. The device according to claim 1 in which said valve control component comprises an elongated trough open upon the upper side thereof and upon the inner end thereof, the inner end of control component overlying the outer end of said pan and freely resting on same.

4. The device according to claim 2 in which said valve control component comprises an elongated trough open upon the upper side thereof and upon the inner end thereof, the inner end of control component overlying the outer end of said pan and freely resting on same.

5. The device according to claim 1 in which said water valve includes an apertured valve body extending through said valveplate and a resilient valve element on the lower end of said valve body.

6. The device according to claim 5 in which said valve plate includm a substantially horizontal portion, the lower portion of said apertured valve body being multisided, said valve element comprising a resilient cup adapted to engage around said lower portion of said valve body, a projection concentrically formed on the inner surface of the base of said cup and adapted to engage said aperture within said valve body.

7. The device according to claim 5 in which said valve plate includes a substantially horizontal portion, the lower portion of said apertured valve body being multisided, said valve element comprising a resilient cup adapted to engage around said lower portion of said valve body, a projection concentrically formedv on the inner surface of the base of said cup and adapted to engage said aperture within said valve body, and a shroud formed on the upper surface of said valve plate surrounding but spaced from said valve body lower end.

8. The device according to claim 2 in which said water valve includes an aperturedvalve body extending through said valve plate and a resilient valve element on the lower end of said valve body.

9. The device according to claim 8 in which said valve plate includes a substantially horizontal portion, the lower portion of said apertured valve body being multisided, said valve element comprising a resilient cup adapted to engage around said lower portion of said valve body, a projection concentrically formed on the inner surface of the base of said cup and adapted to engage said aperture within said valve body.

10. The device according to claim 8 in which said valve plate includes a substantially horizontal portion, the lower portion of said apertured valve body being multisided, said valve element comprising a resilient cup adapted to engage around said lower portion of said valve body, a projection concentrically formed on the inner surface of the base of said cup and adapted to engage said aperture within said valve body, and a shroud formed on the upper surface of said valve plate surrounding but spaced from said valve body lower end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,452 Sears Dec. 1, 1885 651,877 McCarthy June 19, 1900 1,720,241 Sallada July 9, 1929 1,778,573 Thiele Oct. 14, 1930 2,487,267 Norland Nov. 8, 1949 2,709,427 Perlman May 31, 1955 

